Alamut by Vladimir Bartol

found the lesson relaxing. His command of grammar was good, and it was a relief to know that this subject wasn’t going to cause him trouble.
    Dai Ibrahim bowed grimly when he had finished. With great dignity he lifted the hem of his roomy cloak in order not to trip on it, then he vanished through the steep passageway downstairs.
    A whisper rose up among the novices. They waited a while longer so as not to run into dai Ibrahim, then they rushed out into the courtyard. There they assembled in two rows according to height.
    Suleiman said to ibn Tahir, “Now you get to meet dai Abdul Malik. Here’s my advice: grit your teeth and focus your will. One fellow dropped dead during these exercises once. Trust in Allah and in the wisdom of Our Master.”
    Yusuf stood at the head of the first row. Somewhere toward the middle was Suleiman, and at the end was ibn Tahir. At the head of the second row was Obeida, and Naim was at its far end.
    A gaunt giant stepped before them with an impetuous stride. He had an angular face and a hard, piercing gaze. When he noticed ibn Tahir among the novices, he asked him, “What’s your name, hero?”
    “I’m Avani, grandson of Tahir of Sava.”
    “Good. I’ve already heard. I hope you prove worthy of your famous grandfather.”
    He stepped back several paces and called out, “Footwear off, then over the wall!”
    In an instant the sandals dropped from their feet. The novices sprinted toward the ramparts and began scaling the wall. Their hands reached into crevices and apertures and held onto stony prominences.
    At the sight of the steep wall ibn Tahir felt his courage fade. He didn’t know how or where to start.
    Above him he heard a voice whispering, “Give me your hand.”
    He looked up and saw Suleiman, who was holding onto an opening in the wall with one hand while offering the other.
    Ibn Tahir took hold of it. With iron strength Suleiman pulled him up.
    “There. Now follow me.”
    And he did. Suddenly he found himself atop the wall.
    The others were already crawling down the other side into an abyss. At the foot of the wall Shah Rud was frothing. Ibn Tahir looked down into it and felt his head spin.
    “I’m going to crash,” he said fearfully.
    “Stay right behind me,” Suleiman whispered to him. His voice was firm and commanding.
    He began his descent. Each time he found a firm foothold, he offered a hand and then a shoulder to ibn Tahir. They worked their way down the wall into the abyss, carefully and with clenched teeth. It seemed an eternity to ibn Tahir before they reached the rocks bounding the river.
    Ibn Tahir caught his breath. He looked up horror-struck. The wall rose straight up before him. He couldn’t believe he had scaled it.
    Abdul Malik appeared on top of the wall. He planted his feet far apart and called out, “Back to your places!”
    They began climbing back up. Ibn Tahir kept close to Suleiman. He followed him foothold by foothold until finally, having traversed the wall’s inner face once again, he felt level ground beneath his feet.
    The novices were catching their breath. Ibn Tahir tried to thank Suleiman but was abruptly shrugged off.
    They put their sandals on and resumed their places in formation.
    “Next time we’ll use a rope,” he whispered, “and that will have to go lightning fast.”
    Abdul Malik smiled sarcastically and said, “What was wrong with you today that you didn’t finish first as usual, Suleiman? Feeling a bit lazy, perhaps? Or just a shade short of courage? Or maybe the newcomer seducedyou with his example? The two of you were holding onto each other like ticks. Now show him you’re a hero. Step forward and hold your breath.”
    Suleiman stepped in front of ibn Tahir and compressed his lips. He looked straight ahead, but with an indeterminate gaze, as if fixed on the far distance. Ibn Tahir grew fearful when he realized that Suleiman had stopped breathing. His face became more and more flushed and his eyes, dull and